LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20380, 11 April 1928, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS.

EASTER TOURNAMENT. THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS. BRAY WINS SINGLES TITLE. A high standard of play, together with mam’ hard-fought and exciting finals, made yesterday’s closing session of the Otago Lawn Tennis Association's Easter tournament one of the most successful and enjoyable in recent years. The attendance of the public was practically equal to Monday’s record, and the weather was fine and sunny, although a tricky wind had some effect on play during the early part of the afternoon. Despite the fact that the postponements caused by the rain on Good Friday made yesterday’s programme an exacting one, the tournament was completed save for the finals and semifinals of the Mixed Doubles Championship and Handicap—an achievement that was made possime by the willingness of the players and the admirable arrangements made by Messrs A. E. M'Artnm, E. D. Duthie, and E. b. Wilson. The winners of yesterdays completed sections were: — Men’s Championship Singles.—\\. Bray. Ladies’ Championship Singles.—Miss M. Pattison. Ladies’ Championship Doubles. —Misses Pattison and White. Men’s Handicap Singles. —G. Pearce. Ladies’ Handicap Singles—Miss A. Raekley. Men’s Handicap Doubles. —E. A. and G. PG(iro(i. Ladies’ Handicap Doubles. —Misses V. Nichols and G. Finch. At 2.30 p.m. the principal game of the tournament —the final of the Men’s Championship Singles—was begun. Mr C. G. White (Wellington) a former Otago champion, occupied the umpire’s stand, and the attendance of spectators taxed the available space on the sides of the court. The weather conditions were npt of the best when the match commenced, but they improved during the progress of play. On the whole, the game was a well-contested one, although there were times when the play was rather uninteresting. In the first set Guy took the opening game, passing Bray with some good shots at the net after a number of bright rallies. Bray chopped many of his opening shots, and Guy’s overhead shots were inclined to be weak. The second game went to , Guy, after which Bray secured the advantage oj the wind and took the third. The following game went to Guy, the play being slow’ and rather unexciting. Guy s smashing and good placing won him the next game, which contained brighter play. Bray’s lobbing was good in the sixth game, and he beat Guy twice in succession with well-placed shots. This and the following game went to Bray. Guy’s overhead was again faulty in the eighth, niUi his smashes were returned by Bray, who took two games in succession. Guy took the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth, winning the first set 7- -5. Bray’s play in the final stages was sound, but Guy’s placing was seldom at fault, and he caught his opponent out of position on more than one occasion. Rather more vigorous play characterised the opening of the second set, the first and second games of which were won by Bray. Guy took the third, catching Bray completely out of position with an excellent cross-court shot after the score had gone to deuce. Bray, whse play had greatly improved, took the next two games, driving and lobbing with steady success. Guy’s overhead strokes continued to be faulty, and his placing was inclined to be ineffective, .but lie took the next game with some clever net shots. The seventh ran to deuce, and was won by Bray after several close rallies, and, by taking the eighth decisively, he won the set, 6—2. The third set found Bray playing a greatly improved game. He took the first game and Guy the second, after which Bray increased his pace and took two games by the use of aggressive tactics. The fifth and sixth games went to Guy, but Bray secured the remainder displaying many excellent back-hand shots of particularly good length. In the last set of. the game Bray forced the pace, and played with an aggressiveness that was lacking on the part of his opponent. Guy, who was no doubt feeling the effects of his game in the morning, failed to take advantage of many good opportunities, and did not finish off his shots as he might, have done. Guy took the first game, but Bray then took four games in succession. He lost the sixth, but finished strongly, taking the last game with comparative ease. A semi-final of the Men’s Championship Singles provided the best game of the morning, Guy defeating S. G. M’Dougail after a close match of three sets. The loser was in good form, and played in admirable style, but throughout he seemed unable to get the required pace or length into his sl'iots, Guy played a particularly steady game, and made good use of a short shot to the side lines.. Miss Melvin’s defeat of Miss White was a surprising feature of the play in the semi-finals of the Ladies’ Championship Singles. She played with a, great deal more severity than, her opponent, and a feature of her game was her fine placing. Miss White did not acquit herself as well as in earlier stages of the tournament, and seemed unable to put the necessary speed and accuracy into her game. Miss Pattison’s victory in her game with Miss Mahoney was not unexpected, although tlie Green Island player did her best against a superior opponent. Miss Pattison was inclined to be weak in length, but she sent across some strong drives. Miss Mahoney’s forehand was not brought into play so successfully as usual, and she could have been more active in her play.

In the final Miss Pattison’s superior placing’, speed and length proved the deciding factors. Her concealed shots from the backhand troubled Miss Melvin, wno seemed tired and a little nonchalant, although she played a plucky game and fully justified her place in the final. The winner played an exceedingly good all round game, and her placing was excellent; but the Southland player’s forehand was not working as well as it was in the game with Miss White. Misses I’attisou and White won the finai of the 'adics’ doubles championship rather easily in straight sets —6—l, 6—3, outplaying Misses . MTntosh and Dotting who, however, gave a plucky and tenacious exhibition.

In the semi-final of the men’s handicap doubles E. A. and G. Pearce (owe 56' heat J. Tregear and G. Dcakcr (owe 30) after a hard and interesting struggle. The losers played a good forcing game, bur their handicap was the deciding factor. In fact, the game would have been a good one if played from scratch. The Pearce brothers played excellent tennis throughout the day, and this was one of their best games. Their performance was much better than was tho case earlier in the tournament. C Sonntag and It. Sincock (owe 5-6) who played consistently well n the handicap ■ doubles throughout the tournament! also reached the final by bearing A. D. Smith and J. Hughes (owe IS), 9- -8, after a close and exciting game. The final was a hard-fought game in whion the combined play and superior placing of tho Pearce brothers were the features Sonntag and Sincock played a sound game, but the winners exhibited better all-round tenuis.

An oven and exciting game was that in which Mi sscs V. Niehcls and G. Finch (owe 50 16) beat Miss Kcast and Mrs M'Dougall (owe 15) for the premier place in tho ladies’ handicap doubles. Miss Nichols was the outstanding player, but Miss Kcast who exhibited many excellent shots, was her inferior by very little. A. Dan-dell (rec 26) a greatly improved player, and a “dark horse” of the tournament put up a good light against S. Pearce (Owe 30) in the final of the men’s handicap singles. The game resolved itscl* into a long and tense struggle and although Barsdell played in admirable all round stylo, Pearce’s placing and court craft proved too much for him. Barsdell is a young player with plenty of time to improve.

In the ladies’ handicap singles Miss A itacklcy (scr) beat Miss N. Fleming (owe 4-6 i after another close and evenly contested game marked by some beautiful driving Miss Fleming, however, was not playing at the top of her form, whereas Miss Barkley put plenty of vigour into her game, combined with accuracy and steadiness.

[n tin; mixed handicap doubles B. Wing field and Miss A.-Strothers (owe 3-6) boat J. Hughes and Miss Keast (owe 2-6) by default ill tho semi finals after 13 t-ames had been played Hughes and Miss Kcast were leading B—s when they were coni polled to withdraw because of Hughes being unable to remain at tho courts any

longer. A feature of the game was the steady play of Miss Struthers and Mi=b Keast The results arc as follow; MEN’S SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. Best of three sets (final, best of fivo sets). Semi-final. R. A. Guy beat S. G. M'Dougnll, 5—7, 6—4, 6—3. Final. W. Bray beat R. A. Guy, 5—7, 62,6 3,

The following are the holders ol the Otago Singles Chumpionship to date: — 1888-W. T. Todd 1907—R. S. Brown 1887—Dr K C BatclielorlOOß—E. S. Brown 1888-F. G. DaziMl 1009—A. F. Wilding 188i)-F. G. Dalz.t-11 1910-G. Ollivier I8!ll—A Borrows 1011—6. Gilmer 1892 A Borrows 1912—W. rearse 1803—A. Borrows 1913—E. S Brown 1894—1 t. O. Koch 10U—L- S. Jennings 180 o— R. O. Koch 1915—G. Ollivier 1896—A. Borrows 1920—G. Ollivier 1897—A. Borrows 1921—W. Bray 1808—A. Borrows 1022—A. W. Sims 1901—C. H. Broad 1023—W Bray 1902—E. L. Salmond 1924—W. Bray 190.1-C G. Whito 1025—H. A. Guy I!K)4—C. G. • White 1026—V. Page 1905—C. G. White 1927—A. S. Moody 1906—R. S. Brown 1928—W. Bray MENS SINGLES HANDICAP. Best of 17 games. First Section. Semi-finals. A Barsdell beat L. M'Kinnon, 9—6. 11. C. R Bnlk beat E. A. Pearce, 9—7. Section Winner. Barsdell beat Balk, 9-6. Second Section. Third Round. Lucas beat J. Hushes, 9—7. S. Pearce beat A. D. Smith, 9—4. Semi-finals. W. Harbutt beat Prosser by default. Ponrco beat Lucas, 9 —2. Section Winner. Pearce beat Harbutt, 9 —2. Final. Pearce beat Barsdell, 9—7. MEN'S DOUBLES HANDICAP. Best of 17 games. First Round. R F. Phillips and S. E. Field (owe 15 2-6) beat J. MacPherson and 11. Pollocu ( °Sn.ith'and 7 M'Dou S all (owe 16 4-6) beat S. L. Henry and R. J- Henry (owe 2-6), Second Round. Trogcar and Deaker beat Smith and M'Doueall bv dofault. . , Pwilfps and Field beat Howison and Domrlas bv default. , Jensen and Calder beat Wilson and Green, 9 —B. , Third Round. ~.,, ~ . Soimtim and Sincock beat Liddell and R Rmith _s 'and Hughes boat Jensen and C T f Sea?~£nd De-aker boat Phillips and Field, 9-7. e . f ~ Semi-finals Sonntaff and Sincock boat Smith, and "p'earco LLrs beat Tregcar and Deaker, o 2 I " ' Final. _. Pearce brothers beat Sonntag and Sincoc\- 9—5. INDIES' CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. (Best of 17 games.) Semi-finals. Miss M. Pattison beat Miss M. Mahoney, 9 ~Miss Melvin bent Miss White, 9-6. Final. _ Miss Pattison beat Miss Melvin, 6-4, ' . . . u.» «i Hm hnlrlnrn of the

LADIES' SINGLES HANDICAP. j (Best of 17 games.) \ Third Round. Mrs Oreton beat Miss Hcywnod. 9-8. Mrs Guv beat Miss Sherriff D-j. Miss A. Rackley beat Miss Turner, 9-2. ■ Fourth Round. Miss Lister beat Miss Taylor, 9—l>. SISS Rackley beat. Mrs Miss Flennnß beat i. ' Mrs Bradley beat Mrb H..,irtj, v—*. Semi-finals. Miss Rackley beat Miss Lister, 0-6. Miss Fleming beat Mrs Bradley, 9-5. Final. Miss Rackley beat Miss Fleming, 9—6. LADIES' DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. (Best of 17 games.) Third Round. Misses Pattison and White beat Misses Sherriff and A. Anderson, 9—o. Misses M'lntosh and Bott.ng beat Mias Bagley and Mrs Jensen, 9—4. Semi-finals. _ Misses M'lntosh and Botting beat Misses Finch and Nichols, 9—6. Misses Pattison and White beat Misses Hart and Todd, 9—l. Final. Misses Pattison and White beat Misses M'lntosh and Botting, 6—l, 6—J. LADIES' DOUBLES HANDICAP. (Best of 17 games.) Third Round. Miss Keast and Mrs M'Dougall beat Misses Read and Hill, 9—5. Misses D. and A. Rackley beat Miss U. Lister and Mrs Webling, 9—4. Semi-finals. Misses V. Nichols and G. Finch beat the Misses Rackley, 9—2. Miss Keast and Mrs M'Dougall beat Miss Taylor and Mrs Bradley, 9—o. Final. Misses Nichols and Finch beat Miss Keast and Mrs M'Dougall, 9—B. MIXED DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. (Best of 17 games.) Third Round. S G M'Dougall and Miss Pattison beat Webling and Mrs Webling, 9—4. AlacPherson and Miss Melvin beat M'Kinnon and Miss Heywood, 9—3^ Fulton and Miss Nichols beat Hughes and Miss Keast, 9—l. Fourth Round. M'Dougall and Miss Pattison beat Tre- ; gear and Miss Botting, 9—2. Guy and Mrs Guy beat Black and Mrs M'Dougall, 9—2. Fulton and Miss Nichols beat Henry "'Phillips and C Miss White beat MaePhersou and Miss Melvin by default. Semi-finals. M'Dougall and Miss Pattison beat Phillips and Miss White, 9—5. MIXED DOUBLES HANDICAP. (Best of 17 Games.) Second Round. . E. Pearce and Miss Pearce beat Crimp and Miss Heywood, 9—7. Phillips and Miss White (owe lo 4-6) beat A. T. Jensen and Mrs Jensen (owe 15' 5-6), 9—6. Third Round. Black and Mrs M"Dougall beat Chisman and Miss Lister, 9—6. M'Dougall and Miss Taylor beat Deaker and Miss Smith, 9—l. Phillips and Miss White beat Smitn and Miss Turner, 9 —3. Webling and Miss Pattison beat Pearce and Miw? Pearce, 9—5. ~■,-..,, Sonntag and Miss Sonntag beat I'ield and Miss Ramsay, 9 —7. Fourth Round. Wingfield and Miss Struthers beat M'Dougall and Miss Taylor, 9—5. Hughes and Miss Keast beat Sonntag and Miss Sonntag, 9 —3. Black and Mrs M'Dougall beat Robs and Miss Read, 9—7. Semi-finals. Wingfield and Miss Struthers beat Hughes and Miss Keast by default. The semi-finals and finals of both sections of the Mixed Doubles will be played at the Anderson's Bay courts on Saturday at 2 p.m., those taking part being as follow: — MIXED DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. Semi-final.—R. A. Guy and Mrs Guy v. Fulton and Miss Nichols. Fjjjal.—S. G. M'Dougall and Miss M. Pattison.

MIXED DOUBLES HANDICAP. Fourth Round. —R. F. Phillips and Miss White (owe 15 4-6) v. K. Webling and Miss M. Pattisou (owe 15 5-6). Semi-final. —G. I. Black and Mrs M’Dougall (owe 30). Final. —B. Wingfield and Miss A. Struthers (owe 3-0). TUAPEKA COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS, The Tuapeka County’s lawn tennis tournament was concluded at Roxburgh on Monday in perfect weather. The following are the results: — LADIES’ SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. Semi-finals. Mrs Laurenson (Dunedin) beat Mrs W. K. George (Clyde), 6—o. .. Miss Lawson (Alexandra) beat Miss Archer (Dunedin), 6 —2. Final. Mrs Laurenson beat Miss Lawson, 6 1. LADIES’ DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. Semi-finals. Mrs Laurenson and Mrs Parker (Dunedin) beat Miss Jones and Miss Lawson (Dunedin), 6 —l. ' Miss Moreau and Miss Nicholson (St. Bathans) beat Mrs W. K. George and Miss Trcleaven (Clyde), 6 —4. Final. Mrs Laurenson and Mrs Parker beat Miss Morgan and Miss Nicholson, 6 —l. LADIES’ SINGLES HANDICAP. Semi-final. Miss Nicol, rec 2 (Cromwell), beat Miss Treleaven, rec 2 (Clyde), 30—28. Miss Lawson (Alexandra) beat Mrs \v. K. George, owe 2 (Clyde), 30 —23. Final. Miss Lawson beat Miss Nicol, 30 —0-4. LADIES’ DOUBLES HANDICAP. Semi-finals. Miss Morgan and Miss Nicholson, owe 2 (St. Bathans), beat Mrs W. K. George and Miss Treleaven (Clyde), 30 —15. Mrs Laurenson and Mrs Parker, owe 2 (Dunedin), beat Miss Gillespie and Miss Nicol, rec 2 (Clyde), 30 —23. Final. Mrs Laurenson and Mrs Parker beat Miss Morgan and Miss Nicholson, 30 —23. MEN’S SINGLES HANDICAP. Laurenson (Dunedin) beat Morris by default. . A. Chisholm (Dunedin) beat J. Davie, rec 7 (Ettrick), 30 —19. Final. Laurenson, owe 2, beat Chisholm, 30 —26. MEN’S DOUBLES HANDICAP. Semi-final. J. B. Quaile and S. Smith, rrc 4 (Dunedin), beat J. Dougherty and K. Hewitt, roc 4 (Alexandra), 30 —25. J. Morgan and S. Leask (St. Bathans) beat A. Chisholm and G. Thompson, owe 2 (Dunedin), 30 —17. Final. Leask and Morgan beat Quaile and Smith, 30—25. MIXED DOUBLES HANDICAP. Semi-final. Miss Anderson and R. Hewitt beat Miss Horner and Tilley. Miss Nicholson and Morgan beat Miss Morgan and Leask. Final. Miss Nicholson and Morgan, owe 5 (St. Bathans) beat Miss 1). Anderson (Dunedin) and R. Hewitt, rec 2 (Alexandra), 30—16.

The following i» a "*t of th«hoi<icrB ». - Ladies' Singles Championship to dale.-law-Miss E- Bathgate 1903-MiBB P. Campbe S : 1: sis. ffifcK f- »• it£:!«££ sissrS 18!) 180. l!Kl 100 io« ino ISO 100 190 H —Miss P Gooipneii ijju—•"" '• "■, _Mi s F. Campbell 1921-Mrs R. JoW 8 Mi« P. Campbell IHS2—Miss J- M L * r ' n . ? MU F Campbell 1923-Mrs W. J. Melody Jill m P. Campbell |i)2*-MUe J. M'Urcn fw ss P Campbell IMS-Miss U. l'uttison t K Campbell 1926-Miss M. £a moo g—Miss P- Campbell WJ8—siibS •"• 7—MIes P. Campbell